Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1887-09-17

First lien for wurkmen's wages.
The enactment of lusler laws for the
llablllty OF employers to employees
Abolition of the contract system in
prisons and on public works.
Sweeping reform of the tenement
house system.
Abolition of tenement house cigar
making and all other tonemcnt-houso
manufacturing
Sanitary inspection Of mines, factories,
dwellings and all conditions of labor.
Rigid enforcement of the law prohibit
ing the importation of foreign labor un-
der contract
Rigid enforcement of all existing bcne-
fetal labor laws.
Equal adult citizenship and suffrage,
without regard to sex.
Repeal of all blue laws.
Repeal of all conspiracy laws, tramp
laws, and all class legislation and priv.
lcges.
No Pinkertons; no AIMED bandits in
the pay Of capital,
RcSMred, That with view to progress
slye advance in the direction marked out
10y the above declaration Of principles,
We furthermore demand.
The public ownership and manage
ment Of railroads, teegraphs, express
and steamship lines, telephones, gas and
water works, and all industries involving
the use of public franchises, or the per
formance of public functions.
The direct issue OF currency and money
by the national Treasury, without the
Intervention of banks.
And as first step to the recovery Of
the natural inheritance Of the people, we
favor a special tax on unimproved land
sufficiently high To compel its improve
ment or its surrender to the community
10y the spectators who withhold it from
use.
We favor also tax on all incomes of
the monopolisiic classes and corporations,
aud thus materially Tighten the burdens
now borne by the workers, producers
and masses Of the people,
With the same end in view, we also
favor the exemption from taxation of
the average homGsteads, farms, manu-
factories, working tools and properties
under S5, 900 III value occupied Or pro-
ductiveIy used by the owners, and not
rented out.
RESOLUTIONS AND DEBATE.
Following the platform were a series
Of resolutions which are logical corola-
ries of the former. The resolutions read
as follows:
WHEREAS, Municipal autonomy is the
foundation of liberty and good govern
ment;
ReSoIred, That we demand home rule
i. e., that the people Of each city and
town, respectively, shall have full con
trOl of their own local affairs.
HeSOired, That we demand the direct
election by the people of all responsible
officials, judicial executive, admmistra-
tive and legislative,
WHEEEAS, The aims Of true democracy
can only be secured by methods truly
democratic;
ReSoired, That we favor the adoption
of the Referendum principle, as applied
in the Republic of Switzerland, and in
part in the several States Of this Union,
50 that all laws of importance shall be
submitted to the people for their ap-
proval or rejection.
ReSOlred, That we demand such re-
vision OF our electoral laws as will secure
the absolute secresy of the ballot, "A com
plete registration and identification Of
voters, the effective prevention Of
bribery aud intimidation, and the pay
ment of all proper election expenses by
the community,
A call for a State Convention was
issued, to take place at Webster Hall,
New York, on Wednesday, Septem-
Der 2S. Meanwhile active agitation
and the distribution of copies Of the
platform will be in order.
MASSACHUSETTS, IN LINE.
The "Old Bay State" is not behind
in the political labor movement, at
least so far rs the initiative is con
cerned. Some few weeks ago the
following call was issued:
eve, the undersigned, citizens and
voters of Massachusetts,, believing that
the interest of the workers can be better
advanced by independent political action
than by affiiating with the Republican
or Democratic parties, do hereby Join in
calling convention Of delegates elected
from Knights Of Labor assemblies, Trade
Unions, Land and Labor Clubs, Union
Labor Clubs, and other organizations Of
similar purposes and objects, to be held
at New Era Hail. l76 fremont street,
Boston, on Saturday, the 10th day of
September, 1887, at 10 a. m, to nominate
State officers, adopt a platform of politi-
cal principles and organize for political
work: signatures.
In response to this call, represent
atives from various labor organiza-
tions were promptly at the place
named, including several ladies,
The delegates came to pool their
issues" and the result of the labors
of the committee on platform was as
n